The Art of Decision Making: How to Stay Consistent
Explore the transformative power of consistency in various aspects of life, drawing inspiration from the biblical figure Daniel.
Part 3: How to Stay Consistent
Do you struggle with following through? Today, we will look at a very important spiritual quality: consistency. Remaining consistent has the power to change not only the trajectory of your year but your entire life. Consistency is the key to spiritual strength, ministry impact, physical health, relationships, financial potential, and your goals. Consistency is not appearance, behavior, or education.
It’s easy to say, “I’m screwed,” and then inconsistently:
Eat healthy food
Read your Bible
Exercise
Be on time
Many of us have good intentions but struggle to follow through.
Romans 7:15, 18-19 (ESV): “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”
If you’re tired of having good intentions and falling short, keep reading.
You can decide ahead of time that with God’s help, you are consistent.
Successful people do consistently what other people do occasionally.
We are what we repeatedly do.
Nothing we do occasionally makes a difference. It’s those things that we do consistently that make a difference.
Let’s take a look at scripture and identify why consistency matters.
Daniel was one of the most consistent people in the Bible. He was consistent, moral, relational, spiritual, and a good leader.
Around 605 BC, about 18 years after Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, the Babylonian Government abducted twelve of the best and brightest boys. Their goal was to indoctrinate them on the ways of Babylonian culture and turn them into future leaders.
King Darius noticed Daniel displayed unusual consistency and planned to promote Daniel over top leaders.
The other leaders wanted Daniel canceled. They would dig up dirt on him to find fault in his character.
Daniel 6:4 (ESV): “Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.”
Because they couldn’t find anything wrong with Daniel, they picked on the only thing they could: his faith. Every day, Daniel would pray with his windows opened toward Jerusalem. They tricked the King into signing a law that would allow them to arrest Daniel and give him the punishment of death by lions.
Daniel 6:10 (ESV): “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”
Even in the lion’s den. God sent an angel to shut the mouth of the lions.
Daniel 6:23 (ESV): “Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.”
Daniel didn’t learn to trust God in the lion’s den. He learned in his prayer closet. The act of consistently praying built Daneil’s ability to trust God. Most of us pray occasionally, but Daniel prayed consistently.
How do We Grow In Consistency?
Discover the Why
Develop a gameplan for failure
Embrace the process
1. Discover the Why
Why did Daniel pray consistently? He loved God. It was never about an outward show and was born out of inward devotion.
Why do most New Year resolutions fail? They are a result of desire, not devotion. We want to change, but because we don’t have a clear and compelling reason why, we fall short.
If you want to grow in consistency, start with the why.
The closer you get to God, the more the enemy will distract you. Serving God helps us to stay focused and grounded in His truth.
Do you want a better marriage? Honor your vows. If you have kids, invest in them spiritually and build a legacy of service to Jesus that will be passed to their kids.
Do you want financial stability? Learn about stewardship and not living paycheck to paycheck. Free your life of worry about money and be generous.
Do you want to quit a bad habit? Decide that the generational curse stops with you.
Some obstacles are hard to resist, and you lack support and motivation. Instead of having willpower, which can only be sustained for so long, think of it as why-power.
When you know your why, you will find a way.
Why do I pray with my wife? Because the enemy doesn’t take a day off. There are attacks around every corner. Prayer is a key to our marriage, ministry, mentorships, and decisions.
Remember, when you define your why, your values and decisions become easier.
2. Develop a gameplan for failure
Now, let's talk about failure – not the most glamorous topic, but a crucial one. Picture it as preparing for a dance-off; you've got to know the missteps to avoid. Develop a game plan for those "oops" moments. Trust me, even the best dancers trip over their own feet from time to time.
Daniel prayed three times per day, just like he did before. Did Daniel ever miss one of the three daily prayer times? Sure he did! It’s important that we don’t over-spiritualize Daniel. He was human, just like you and me.
I can imagine times when King Darius asked him to work late. Perhaps he was caught in traffic where the Camels were nose to butt for miles. Maybe there was a big game on, and friends ordered wings. Or maybe he overslept the next morning.
Why are so many of us inconsistent? We have this all-or-nothing mindset. If we call short one time, we say, “Forget it. I failed.”
Being consistent isn’t the same as being perfect.
When you pray with your spouse, keep it short and simple. You have permission to miss one. Work out a strategy to keep yourself consistent. You are going to mess up, so plan to allow for it. Know that momentary failure is part of the process.
Many of us have an illusion of perfection that keeps us from getting started. Maybe you are someone who grew up in a household that used profanity on the regular, and you think your mouth is the reason you can’t follow Jesus. You should make a decision to follow Jesus today and plan to fail. It’s not realistic to tell someone who’s been swearing their whole life to stop in an instant. Our brains don’t work that way.
When learning to play the guitar, many people stop halfway because their fingers hurt. They don’t practice enough, so they never develop those callouses that every good guitar player has. So they stash their instrument in the closet to never be seen or heard from again. In order to play like the pros, it takes dedication and consistency.
3. Embrace the Process
Learning to love the process is like enjoying the scenic route on a road trip. Sure, the destination is important, but the journey is where the stories happen. So, buckle up and appreciate the twists, turns, and unexpected detours.
Daniel wasn’t trying to get promoted. He was consistent in doing what mattered to him and to God. Many of us obsess about the goal. I know I do.
Let’s say we want to lose twenty pounds and pay off both credit cards or read the whole Bible. Delayed gratification is much harder when you don’t enjoy the milestones along the way. Enjoying the journey is a way to keep yourself motivated to reach the end.
My win isn’t to play the guitar like a superstar, but when I show up and consistently practice(which makes me tired and sore), and I’m consistent, I will make progress.
I can decide ahead of time that with God’s help, I can:
Be consistent
Get stronger
Reach my health goals
Pay off debt
Read God’s word
Remember, good decisions aren’t based on what feels good. They are based on who God is calling you to be. When your values are clear, your decisions are easier.
By identifying our "why," navigating failures with resilience, and embracing the journey, we tap into the transformative power of consistency. So, let us forge ahead, anchored in our values, knowing that every consistent step we take propels us toward a life aligned with God's purpose and filled with enduring significance.
